This news item expired on 7/22/2013, so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.

Shooting Incident at Laurel Loop Road - Update

Buncombe County, July 15, 2013 - Garrett Dale Hatch, 31, of 100 Laurel Loop Road in Fletcher was charged with one count of Driving While Impaired and one count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Government Official. He is currently being held in the Buncombe County Detention Center on $50,000 bond. Hatch was transported to Mission Hospital this morning for treatment on non-life threatening injuries sustained during a domestic disturbance call at Laurel Loop Road.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office deputy was involved in the shooting incident this morning has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the State Bureau of Investigation’s preliminary findings. Buncombe County deputies were dispatched to the scene of the incident in the early morning hours in response to a domestic disturbance call. The deputy on the scene had been notified by Communications that the suspect, Garrett Hatch, had a firearm on the premises, and heard a firearm discharged as he approached the residence on foot. The deputy directed Mr. Hatch to stop as he drove aggressively driving towards him. Mr. Hatch disregarded the deputy’s command, and continued to drive towards him. The deputy discharged his weapon, and Mr. Hatch was injured.

The State Bureau of Investigation was contacted immediately per officer shooting incident protocol, and an investigation is ongoing.

For more information regarding this incident, please call Natalie Bailey at the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office at (828)250-4469.